Reader question: I noticed a for-lease sign in the parking lot of the Family Video on Calumet Street. I was wondering if either Papa Murphy’s or Family Video was shutting down or what was going on?

Answer: Family Video and Papa Murphy’s are remaining in place.

But the Family Video chain, the largest video rental retailer still standing in the U.S., is looking to downsize some of its larger branches.

For-lease signs went up on 32 Family Video properties in Wisconsin last week. That includes those in the greater Fox Valley, plus locations as far away as Portage, Marshfield, Sturgeon Bay and Marinette.

“The video stores are doing great. We are not closing a single one,” said Melissa Barber, Family Video regional manager.

“We’re getting the word out that we’re willing to carve in and do additional leases,” she said. “We only need about 4,000 square feet, and most of our locations were built for VHS 15 to 20 years ago. If you look at our Menasha store, it’s 7,000 square feet. It doesn’t need that much space. My Neenah store is 10,000 square feet. I’ve got a lot of space available.”

She said they can easily carve 1,200 to 3,000 square feet out of each of the video stores to create space for a new tenant. In addition, some locations have separate existing tenant spaces that are currently vacant.

The company owns all of its real estate, and its locations are typically multi-tenant buildings that lease side units to pizzerias, liquor stores, hair salons or other businesses.

Barber said this was a way to bring her company more business and more rental income.

A cellular company or other customer service-type business would fit in the mix, said Elizabeth Ringgold, a real estate agent for Newmark Grubb Pfefferle handling the 32 properties.

Family Video also has franchise rights to Marco’s Pizza, and has put several of those locations in the Fox Cities market. They remain open.

The Papa Murphy’s in Family Video’s Calumet Street building, by the way, is staying put. Wes Tarr, Papa Murphy’s regional manager, said they resigned a five-year lease last August.